People v. Kelly

• Decision Date: 19 February 2014
• Parties: The PEOPLE, etc., respondent, v. Cornell KELLY, appellant.
• Court: New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

114 A.D.3d 879

980 N.Y.S.2d 791

2014 N.Y. Slip Op. 01194

The PEOPLE, etc., respondent,

v.Cornell KELLY, appellant.

Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department, New York.

Feb. 19, 2014.

Lynn W.L. Fahey, New York, N.Y., for appellant.

Richard A. Brown, District Attorney, Kew Gardens, N.Y. (John M. Castellano, Johnnette Traill, Nancy Fitzpatrick Talcott of counsel), for respondent.

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Queens County (Erlbaum, J.), rendered May 5, 2010, convicting him of assault in the second degree, assault in the third degree, and petit larceny, after a nonjury trial, and imposing sentence.

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.

The defendant's argument with respect to the legal sufficiency of the evidence establishing that he used a “dangerous instrument” to injure the complainant as required to support his conviction of assault in the second degree (Penal Law § 120.05[4] ) is unpreserved for appellate review ( see CPL 470.05[2]; People v. Gray, 86 N.Y.2d 10, 20–21, 629 N.Y.S.2d 173, 652 N.E.2d 919), and, in any event, without merit ( see People v. Cephas, 107 A.D.3d 821, 966 N.Y.S.2d 684;People v. Warren, 98 A.D.3d 634, 637, 949 N.Y.S.2d 496;People v. Phillips, 256 A.D.2d 733, 735, 682 N.Y.S.2d 685). With respect to the defendant's remaining arguments regarding the legal sufficiency of the evidence, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution ( see People v. Contes, 60 N.Y.2d 620, 467 N.Y.S.2d 349, 454 N.E.2d 932), we find that it was legally sufficient to establish that the defendant committed the crimes of assault in the second degree (Penal Law § 120.05[4]; see People v. Abera, 2 A.D.3d 1155, 1156, 768 N.Y.S.2d 702;People v. DiBella, 277 A.D.2d 699, 702, 715 N.Y.S.2d 777;People v. Cunningham, 222 A.D.2d 727, 728, 635 N.Y.S.2d 304;People v. Acton, 149 A.D.2d 839, 841, 540 N.Y.S.2d 544), assault in the third degree (Penal Law § 120.00[1]; see People v. Chiddick, 8 N.Y.3d 445, 447, 834 N.Y.S.2d 710, 866 N.E.2d 1039;People v. Bernadotte, 107 A.D.3d 1012, 966 N.Y.S.2d 914;People v. Valencia, 50 A.D.3d 1163, 856 N.Y.S.2d 250;People v. Berry, 273 A.D.2d 120, 121, 709 N.Y.S.2d 554;People v. Brown, 243 A.D.2d 749, 662 N.Y.S.2d 934), and petit larceny (Penal Law § 155.25; see People v. Brooks, 79 N.Y.2d 1043, 1045, 584 N.Y.S.2d 1010, 596 N.E.2d 408,cert. denied 506 U.S. 899, 113 S.Ct. 282, 121 L.Ed.2d 208;People v. Perez, 93 A.D.3d 1032, 1035–1036, 942 N.Y.S.2d 227;People v. Livigni, 288 A.D.2d 323, 324, 732 N.Y.S.2d 875).

Moreover, in fulfilling our responsibility to conduct an independent review of the weight of the evidence ( see CPL 470.15[5]; People v. Danielson, 9 N.Y.3d 342, 849 N.Y.S.2d 480, 880 N.E.2d 1), we nevertheless accord great deference to the fact-finder's opportunity to view the witnesses, hear the testimony, and observe demeanor ( see People v. Mateo, 2 N.Y.3d 383, 410, 779 N.Y.S.2d 399, 811 N.E.2d 1053,cert. denied542 U.S. 946, 124 S.Ct. 2929, 159 L.Ed.2d 828;People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672). Upon reviewing the record here, we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt as to all of the crimes was not against the weight of the evidence ( see People v. Romero, 7 N.Y.3d 633, 826 N.Y.S.2d 163, 859 N.E.2d 902).

DILLON, J.P., BALKIN, COHEN and HINDS–RADIX, JJ., concur.